The Cognoterre: Diplomacy and Espionage
THE COGNOTERRE: DIPLOMACY AND ESPIONAGE
RITUAL AGREEMENT: The battlefield shall be divided by Pact.
After Malachi's coronation, the Sun Rose Company is thrust
into action, and the pace never relents.
"The Destined King has returned!" is the message that is sent
through the Cognoterre by messengers of all sorts. "The New Age is
nigh!" The message is sent by word, by magic, and by dream,
summoning all who would fight to Mynedd Palace in Candor.
Just days after Malachi's coronation, the world is rocked
again. Everyone in the Cognoterre, it seems, steps outside one night
to watch and tremble as the night sky is filled with streaking comets
and bursts of fire. Earthquakes tear through old faults and tidal
waves batter shores. Strange illusory manifestations flicker into
life and die as quickly, and magical lights flare and glow an eerie
green before falling into darkness.
For a moment, everything is still, as if the world holds its
breath. And every mage in the Cognoterre, every worshipper of
Chymrae, shudders and falls to the ground, mind and soul gripped by
an unthinkably powerful magic. Sibilant, overlapping whispers seep
through the paralyzed minds:
- Join me [fear not] [fear greatly] [she is slain] [we are
here] and become more powerful [sell your soul] [regain your soul]
[take these new spells] [what is your desire?] than ever before [the
weak gods] [no more limits] [sides must be chosen]! -
And, at that moment, mages and worshippers of Chymrae are
given to know that the shapeshifting goddess of magic has been
subsumed into the shapeshifting Avatarch of magic, Sardonicus, and
each must choose to worship or not.
The paralysis is lifted as soon as a choice is made. Nobody
knows exactly who chose what, for there is nothing to prevent a mage
or worshipper from lying about where his or her loyalties lie; and it
seems that access to magic hasn't changed, no matter what choice was
made. Throughout the Cognoterre, a great mistrust of mages grows,
for everyone soon realizes that any mage could well have chosen to
fight for the Metal God -- any mage could be a potential traitor to
Samru itself.
Malachi returns to Cislunar long enough to crown King
Domenico Lament, who promptly kneels and swears allegiance to him.
Then the Destined King returns to Candor and gets to work rebuilding
an empire.
Empyrias, Travioch, and Somadios quickly fall behind the
Destined King. They had never entirely stopped considering Candor
the heart of the fallen empire, and the city-states within their
bounds are among the first to pledge loyalty to the newly crowned
king.
Halkem, bearing Viris, is sent to Bahr al'Raml, to bid the
hadjjin and other denizens of the desert come join the fight against
the Avatarchs. He does not wish to travel back to the place where
his heart was first broken, but like a true priest of Carrick, he
shoulders his burden and sets forth. His will be a difficult
mission, for Spir is now ruled by another hadjjin warrior calling
himself Orthodoc Hai, and Orthodic Hai -- in his various
incarnations -- has never made alliance with Candor. Halkem's
mission is to try to keep the current Orthodoc Hai from swearing his
allegiance to Iron Scream, instead; or, if he fails, to find out as
much as he can about Iron Scream's plans and to return to Candor. A
number of the Hellebore volunteer to go with Halkem as bodyguards,
for the hadjjin will only respect one who comes in force. Several of
Halkem's congregational followers also go with him, to tend to his
supplies and steeds and other needs.
Pip, bearing Pavonine, is sent to seek out the hierodules and
coryphei and bid them join. In particular, he is sent to Arquian: to
Ware, to speak to the self-styled demigod of hierodules, Ecclesiarch
Darkangel; and to Marsilion Court, to negotiate with the Lady of
Ashes. The mission calls for great diplomacy and care, and many of
the Sun Rose Company fear that Pip is incapable of the job, but
Malachi looks the careworn noble in the eyes and says, "I trust
you." And so Pip goes, with Querida, the raised Lavendar, and his
own followers, to offer support and fighting strength. Like Halkem,
he faces great danger, for Darkangel and the Ashen Lady are natural
choices for Sardonicus' wiles. If he discovers the two rulers have
joined the Metal God, he, too, is asked to return to Candor.
Minimin, bearing Nyctor, has known for some time where he's
destined to go; he is sent to the Southern Continent, to the south,
where it is believed the leper-god Mock has established his
stronghold. Disguised as one of the ragged-robed diseased who are
making the pilgrimage to the god of disease, Minimin is ordered to
discover all he can about Mock's plans, reporting by magic and
dream. He is given as many protections against disease as possible,
and Nyctor is magically hidden with spells and a special scabbard
that leaves nothing but the hilt visible in this dimension. Aubrey
joins him, as protector and companion. The two will start their
journey in the Warholt of Bathalt, which is expected to join the
Destined King, and then travel south into the relatively unexplored
lands of Kanpa, to the great jungle city of Sherenyu-Ruk, the
destination, it seems, of Mock's diseased.
Caprice, bearing Palladios and accompanied by Hari, is sent
as a messenger to Saldon and Geronfrey. She is also, if possible, to
gather as much information as possible about Anseis and discover what
is going on there, for the Company knows that Decad has set his
throne on the dark island. Several Hellebore travel with them to
Geronfrey and then proceed by themselves to Windway, to see if they
can sway the old Hellebore regiments there to join the Destined King
rather than Iron Scream. Caprice anticipates that Saldon will be
relatively easy to sway to her side -- although traditionally
corrupt, the island denizens have an upright new archon, Ludovico
Amescua, who is likely to choose to join the Destined King. Ankham
and Jackscrag, too, are likely to be fairly easily won over. But she
must find the House of Three Oaks to see whether the mage Shroud has
chosen to shun Sardonicus, and she must negotiate with the rumored
vampire Shreir Nyctalop.
Elianora and Valere are sent together, along with Little
George and many followers, to negotiate with the racial, rather than
political, governments. They are to approach the bade'in in their
various mountain Holdings, the aseku Families, and any others they
come across. The gargoyles have already pledged their loyalty to the
Destined King, but there are many more intelligent races that have
little to do with the Realms who might be willing to fight against
the Metal Gods. The two charismatic and not-quite-human-anymore
paladins have the best chance of impressing other races with their
message.
Earle Remington is based in Mynedd Palace, with the boys, to
act as go-between and rescuer. The Oneiromancer is to visit each of
the Company every night for a report, which he will take back to
Banter -- or to Remington, should a quick extraction become
necessary. Gules Dragon, now fully reembodied, also stays with the
boys, ready to join Remington is necessary but otherwise charged with
sifting through and organizing the reports as they come in, in order
to develop as full a strategic plan as possible.
